Dr. Biol., Professor A.R. Tuguz¹
B.A. Nepso¹
PhD D.V. Myzhenya2
PhD, Associate Professor N.K. Kagazezheva¹
PhD, Associate Professor N.S. Kolomiytseva^1
1Adyghe State University, Maikop
²Maikop State Technological University, Maikop

Keywords: judo elite, hormonal tests, testosterone, cortisol, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormones, physical training, training system, training cycle, technical and tactical training.

Background. Modern theoretically grounded elite training systems are generally designed to secure competitive progress – that need to be supported by due test systems including the hormonal system adaptability tests otherwise the top-intensity workloads close to absolute physiological maximums may result in failures of adaptation mechanisms. Balances of serum hormones yielded by the tests and analyses make it possible to analyze the training systems efficiency and make timely adjustments to the physical training intensity when necessary [4, 8].

Functionality and adaptation to physical training is controlled by multiple hormones dominated by steroid hormones (testosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol), follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin and luteinizing hormones; with the hormonal responses known to be dependent on the physical training intensity and duration, practical adaptability to specific practices and homeostasis [1-3].

Objective of the study was to rate and analyze adaptation of judo elite of the Republic of Adygea to training system based on the serum hormone tests.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for Experimental Group (EG) the local 18-21 year-old Masters of Sports in judo (n=12), many-times champions and runner-ups of the Russian Cups, CIS Championships, European Cups, European Judo Championships, trained at Adyghe State University (Maikop) in elite judo groups. The sample is coached by B.A. Nepso, follower of Yakub K. Koblev, Honored Trainer of the USSR, in traditions of the local Olympic Reserve School.

The traditional training process may be classified into training cycle with the physical training peaks in the pre-competitive and competitive periods. Every micro- or weekly training cycle includes a daily (morning, with exclusion of Sundays) 1.5-hour technical and tactical training plus 2.5-hour evening high-intensity training on Mondays and Thursdays. Competitive sparring sessions are run on Tuesdays and Fridays with the top-intensity workloads including 10 four-minute bouts with 4-minute rest breaks. On Wednesdays the groups run morning technical and tactical training followed by evening sauna or pool swimming plus walking, massaging and other rehabilitation services. On Saturdays the groups play volleyball, basketball, football, run cross-country races etc. Every training cycle is followed by a 72-hour recovery period.

We tested the training cycle stage-specific serum hormone (testosterone, cortisol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormones and prolactin) variations in blood samples as follows. Point 1: basal post-recovery level; and Point 2: post-training level upon a 2-day high-intensity combined physical training, with blood sampled in the middle of a training microcycle. Reference Group (RG, n=12) was composed of unsporting 18-21 (20.2±1.32) year-olds.

The hormone tests were made using IFA System (made by "Vector-Best", Russia) at the Immunogenetic Laboratory of the ASU (Research Institute of Complex Problems), with triple tests to average the test data, provided the variation range falls within 10%. The hormone test data correlations were rated by the Pearson parametric correlation analysis using SPSS Statistics 17.0 software toolkit.

Results and discussion. Given in Table 1 hereunder are the RG vs. EG basal hormone tests made upon the 72-hour recovery period.

Table 1. Basal serum hormone test data of the EG and RG, (M±m)

We found insignificant intergroup differences in 4 of 5 analyzed hormones tested within the physiological norms. The EG was tested with the highest deviation from the norm (4.5-35.4 nmol/ l) in the testosterone tests – that may be due to the shortage of rehab period or some stress: see Table 1).

Despite the fact that habitual judo trainings are known to increase the basal blood testosterone and cortisol levels, the EG was tested with some testosterone falls and cortisol growths, with the testosterone to cortisol ratio applied to rate the individual adaptation to training systems [7]. The testosterone drop and cortisol growth may be indicative of an overtraining and fatigue. Therefore, a serum cortisol growth should be interpreted by the coaches as a negative indication of the athlete’s functionality sagging in the training process. Balance of hormones is generally determined by the competition of glucocorticoids for specific cellular receptors, with the cortisol activity dependent on the share of receptors captured by testosterone [5]. We analyzed the EG and RG for correlations of the hormone test rates: see Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2. Correlations of the hormone test rates in the RG

*significant at p=0.05

We found moderate correlations (2 positive and 1 negative) between testosterone vs. cortisol (r = + 0.587; p = 0.045), testosterone vs. follicle-stimulating hormone (r = -0.596; p = 0.041) and luteinizing hormones vs. follicle-stimulating hormone (r = + 0.651; p = 0.02) in the RG: see Table 2.

Table 3. Correlations of the hormone test rates in the EG

** significant at p=0.01; * significant at p=0.05

The EG was tested different from the RG (see Table 3) in the resting basal cortisol vs. follicle-stimulating hormone correlation ratios (r = -0.728; p = 0.007).

Table 4. Point 2 hormone test data of the EG (post-2-day training cycle), M±m

Note: t – Student criterion; р – significant of differences rate, M±m – average

As demonstrated by Table 4, the EG was tested with significantly higher levels of stress hormone cortisol after high-intensity precompetitive trainings, versus insignificant testosterone growth and drops in luteinizing hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin levels.

Table 5. Point 1 and Point 2 hormone test data of the EG, M±m

Note: t – Student criterion; р – significance of difference rate, M±m – average

The Point 1 (pre-exercise) and Point 2 (post-exercise) tests found growth in 4 of 5 analyzed hormones. Note that the post-exercise cortisol test rates were found to moderately grow – that is indicative of the adequate adaptive responses to physical training. The 44% post-exercise testosterone growth is due to not only hemoconcentration but also to the exercise intensity (see Table 5) that stimulates synthesis of the hormone in the anterior pituitary gland, an anabolic regulator of prolactin [5]. A moderate post-exercise prolactin growth (p <0.05) was found to facilitate the testosterone production (see Table 5).

Furthermore, the significant post-exercise drop in follicle-stimulating hormone test rates may be due to the high-intensity physical training with increased production of ACTH, glucocorticoids and opioid peptides of inhibitory effect on its synthesis [5]. The minor pre- versus post-exercise luteinizing hormones variations may be interpreted as indicative of the good adaptation of the neuroendocrine system to the long-acting stressors [6].

Conclusion. The study found the hormone levels profiling tests and analyses being beneficial for the adaptation process control in judo elite trainings to keep the training system intensity within the physiological standards.

References

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Corresponding author: lab_genetic@mail.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to rate and analyze adaptation of judo elite of the Republic of Adygea to training system based on the serum hormone tests.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for Experimental Group (EG) the local 18-21 year-old Masters of Sports in judo (n=12), many-times champions and runner-ups of the Russian Cups, CIS Championships, European Cups, European Judo Championships, trained at Adyghe State University (Maikop) in elite judo groups. The sample is coached by B.A. Nepso, follower of Yakub K. Koblev, Honored Trainer of the USSR, in traditions of the local Olympic Reserve School.

The hormone tests were made using IFA System (made by "Vector-Best", Russia) at the Immunogenetic Laboratory of the ASU (Research Institute of Complex Problems), with triple tests to average the test data, provided the variation range falls within 10%. The hormone test data correlations were rated by the Pearson parametric correlation analysis using SPSS Statistics 17.0 software toolkit.

Results and conclusions. The original hormonal profiles of the donors and judokas did not differ statistically significantly and did not exceed the standard values. After intensive trainings, the concentrations of stress hormone cortisol (p£0.05) and testosterone (p£0.05) increased, while those of luteinizing hormones, follicle-stimulating hormones, and prolactin decreased. Changes in the hormonal profile of the qualified judokas within the physiological values indicated a high degree of adaptation of their body to physical loads during training activities.